Poll debates and spending / Grim Reaper strikes again

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – With the plan to of the Commission on Elections to hold debates among presidential, vice presidential and even local bets for the 2016 polls, I’m reminded of a radio interview in the 80’s in this summer capital wherein a mayoral candidate was asked: What are your plans should you win as mayor?

The wannabee answered: “Yes, marami akong plans – I have gumamelas, roses, marami pang iba.” “A e sir, yung plano mu ibig ko sabihin, the radio announcer said.” Yung panalo ko siempre, ibibigay ko sa mga tao. Aba maraming mahihirap diyan. Tulad ko, dati din akong mahirap kaya naiintindihan ko sila.” the soon-to-be mayor said.

True or not, over the years, this story had been making the rounds of coffee and drinking pubs here. With the Comelec proposal, it wouldn’t be farfetched if some nincompoop would provide added fare during debates.

Our perennially tipsy neighborhood philosopher with his devious mind says such debates should include voters who would ask questions from candidates on their qualification, integrity to hold public office or platform with one answering he has a stage in their house which people could use.

He say she is already concocting queries he would be asking candidates: Have you ever engaged in an extramarital affair? Do you have children aside from those you have with your wife? If elected, would you require commissions for infrastructure contract projects? Have you graduated in the elementary level? Since education should be a main concern of government, could you explain the K-12 program which the Dept. of Education will implement since even some DepEd authorities, have conflicting statements on the matter? Does color of the skin determine whether one is corrupt or suited to hold public office?

He has a lot more, he says, but with his brilliant mind, he can have more which could put candidates on the spot. 

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Anyway, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said with the debates, the poll body intends to provide a venue for local candidates to inform the voters of their platform of government.“We want these debates to be replicated in the local level,” Bautista disclosed.

Bautista said the commission is set to issue an order to local Comelec officials to work with their respective local media organizations and civil society to set the debates.

“We will be encouraging the local Comelec offices to hold similar debates on the provincial, city, and municipal level in partnership with the local media as well as with civil society groups,” Bautista said.

The Comelec earlier held a meeting with executives of different media organizations for the holding of presidential and vice presidential debates.

Bautista, however, said presidential and vice presidential debates are not mandatory for candidates. Why not? I could see our philosopher asking. This should be done like they do in the US.

The proposed presidential debates would be held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao early next year while the vice presidential debate is set to be held in Metro Manila in April. Will anybody among the presidential aspirants attend these if such events are not made mandatory?

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Still on elections. Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has proposed an increase in the limits on campaign spending in time for the start of the campaign period next year.Pimentel filed Senate Bill 2940, explaining his proposal was intended primarily for local candidates most affected by the spending limits set by the law.

After holding a public hearing Tuesday on the bill, Pimentel said there were no objections from all concerned parties, including the Commission on Elections.

“The existing amounts for the ceiling of campaign expenditure were fixed in 1991. There are a lot of local candidates who are facing problems because of their limited number of voters or constituencies,” Pimentel said.

“So they are not able to take advantage of what we call economies of scale. Unlike the national (candidates), the more number of voters, automatically your ceiling also rises,” he added.

Under Senate Bill 2940, candidates for governor and mayor will enjoy an adjustment in their campaign expenditure limit from P3 to P10 per voter.

The same level of increase would be applied to candidates for the House of Representatives.For the positions of vice governor and vice mayor, the limit would go up from P3 to P8 per voter.

Candidates for members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council), Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) and Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) will have a smaller increase from P3 to P5 per voter.

Political parties would see an increase from P5 to P20 per voter, while candidates without a political party or without support from any political party will have an adjustment of P5 to P10.

In the case of national candidates, the bill proposes the following adjustments: president, from P10 to P20 and vice president, from P10 to P15.

There will be no change for candidates for senator and party-list representative, which would remain at P3 per voter.

Pimentel explained the larger adjustments for single-seat positions as compared to multiple-seat positions such as the Senate, where chances of securing a seat are higher.

“Consequently, there is a need to spend more on the campaign for single-seat positions, as said candidates have to concentrate on reaching out and properly presenting platforms to all constituents,” Pimentel said in his bill.

In the case of national candidates, Pimentel explained the amounts assigned to them are multiplied on a nationwide scale by more than 50 million registered voters.

Pimentel said he would push for the immediate approval of the bill so that it could be enacted before the start of the campaign period next year.

He said a copy of his bill would be furnished to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

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Last week, the Grim Reaper struck again taking some relatives and parents of friends. Those who went to the Great Beyond included Michael Oliver Likigan, 57,who suffered a heart attack while in front of the Tiong San department store in La Trinidad, Benguet; Maureen Socalo Apil in Tabuk City and John Gueya Tarnate of Mabaay, Bauko, Mountain Province.

In Baguio, Oscar Valenceria also died at 86 and was brought to his hometown in Bugallon, Pangasinan. Valencerina had raised his family in Bontoc, Mountain Province and held a top position with DPWH in the province for many years.

Our condolences to families of those whose loved ones went ahead.